If we are going to get our kids to be successful writers in today's digital age, we have to teach them how to type. Interestingly enough, this doesn't seem to be a priority in my district which drives me nuts! My students are required to take writing tests on the computer, and I am required to integrate technology into my classroom, yet the district makes no effort to give us a typing program at the elementary level that would help our students be more successful.
That leaves teachers to find their own typing programs that students can use to become better typists so they can focus less on typing and more on putting their ideas down on screen. While I haven't yet found a free program that saves students' progress, I have found a program and a game that encourage typing skills by making them fun.
Dance Mat Typing is a program put out by BBC. The goat that teaches typing (yes, goat) starts by helping students become familiar with home row so they can actually type without looking. He's got a British accent (since it's put out by BBC) which makes it funny for my students and he moves through different exercises that are supposed to help them type. Unfortunately, the program doesn't save their progress, although I guess that can also be a benefit because then students can go back to lessons they'd like to try again.
There are also many games that students can play once they are familiar with the location of the keys on a keyboard. One program called
TypingRocket I found on
Free Technology for Teachers page. It's got catchy music and is meant to be entertaining so students will want to practice. I know there are other sites out there that allow students to practice keyboarding in interesting ways, and I'm always open to suggestions.
What do your students use?
I couldnt agree more! I am so glad that I learned to type in High School and would even argue that it is one of the most valuable classes I have ever taken! When it comes to anything work or school related I am so glad that I can rely on my typing skills! My students always marvel about how I am able to type without looking at the keyboard...I use this as a gateway for expressing the value behind learning this skill. At school we have a program installed on the computers called Type to Learn that they are using and they really do look forward to computer time!
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